Emotions Physical Theatre performs Friday, March 13th, 2015 in The Series.
Emotions Physical Theatre’s mission is to serve as a bridge between art and entertainment. Using an organic blend of contemporary dance with hip hop, ballet, gymnastics and breakdance, we are committed to making dance theater that is fun, accessible, and innovative. We break down walls between stage performance and spectators to create an experience for audience members that goes way beyond a typical dance show by including audience participation and by creating in unique spaces. We believe that dance theater should be transparent and easy to understand while still inspiring thought and communicating ideas in a clear and aesthetically pleasing way.
Emotions Physical Theatre is doing the performance art business differently by centering around the idea of efficiency with time and resources while creating a rich, unique and inclusive experience. This creates income to help support artists, community outreach and education programs.
We believe that art is a form of profound communication that shapes society. This motivates us to explore how dance and theater can be used to the fullest potential to educate, entertain, and inspire.
Shawn Rawls
Shawn began dance training with the Y.A.R.D. (Youth At Risk Dancing) and graduated as a double major in dance and visual art from Cleveland School of the Arts. He holds a B. F. A. in performance and choreography from Belhaven University. Shawn studied at the American Dance Festival and worked on backstage crews for the Martha Graham Company, Pilobolus, Bill T. Jones, Paul Taylor and others. Shawn has performed with over a dozen shows and dance companies throughout the United States and abroad including Pilobolus, the Roxey Ballet, Abarukas, the Chicago Lyric Opera, Catapult from “America’s Got Talent,” the Aluminum Show, Monster Energy Drink and the Roots, and Culture Shock. As a freelance choreographer for more than five years, he recently won the first round of NYC XYZ choreography competition and placed runner up in the final round. His work has been chosen as a part of NYC 10 dance festival. He has been commissioned to set work on professional companies like the Roxey Ballet and Dancing Wheels. Shawn is the founder and artistic director of Emotions Physical Theatre, a dance company that performs in New York and around the United States. The company’s premiere performance at the Houston Fringe Festival earned the award “most innovative idea” for the 45 minute show “Process.” Shawn’s choreographic work is an organic blend of contemporary dance with hip hop, ballet, gymnastics and breakdance. He creates work to bridge the gap between art and entertainment with works that thought provoking, fun, and captivating.
Janette Rawls
Janette holds a B. F. A. in Dance from Belhaven University. Her training includes summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre and the American Dance Festival. In addition to her dance studies, she worked on technical crews for Pilobolus, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Paul Taylor Dance Company as a stagecraft apprentice. Janette started her professional career in Kansas City with Stӧrling Dance Theater, performing in the large productions Underground and The Little Match Girl. In Houston, Janette danced with Earthen Vessels: Sandra Organ Dance Company and appeared as a guest artist with FrenetiCore, Jhon Stronks, and for several commercial dance and modeling projects with Dance Houston. Janette recently worked with Catapult on international tour after their feature on “America’s Got Talent.” Janette has over eight years of teaching experience including teaching at the collegiate level, for summer intensives, and in performing arts schools. She is certified in Stott® Pilates and holds an ABT® National Training Curriculum teacher certification in primary through level three. Janette currently teaches in the New York/New Jersey area, writes dance reviews for NYC 10, and serves as the administrative and technical director for Emotions Physical Theatre.
Satomi Itohara
Satomi began her ballet training in her home town of Yamaguchi, Japan. Moving to the United States, she continued her education at Utah Valley University on a scholarship where she graduated with a BFA in Dance. Satomi moved to New York to accept a position at the Joffrey Ballet School Concert Group under the direction of Davis Robertson. As a member of the company, she has worked with choreographers such as Africa Guzman, Julie Bour, Larry Keigwin, Brian McSween, and Davis Robertson. In high demand as a freelance dancer, she has worked with independent choreographers and companies such as Jessica Taylor, Nichole Buggé, Remi Harris, stbdance, Eva Dean Dance, and she is currently dancing with Nomad Contemporary Ballet under the direction of Kristen McGrew. She also enjoys choreographing, and has presented her work in showcases in NYC. Satomi is thrilled to join Emotions Physical Theatre.
Takeshi Ohashi
Takeshi began studying rhythmic gymnastics when he was 12 years old. He won the individual and team first prizes at the prefectural tournament and was in the national championship for six years. After that, he began to pursue various styles of dance including hip-hop, popping, modern, and ballet. Combining his dance skills with rhythmic gymnastics, he brings a unique awe-inspiring dynamic to the stage. In 2010, he danced in the operetta “The Riviera Girl and The Gipsy Princes” in Romania. In 2012 he danced at Munetugu Hall in Nagoya for the concert of Miho Nishi, a singer, and Yoshiaki Kitagawa, a pianist. In March 2013, he won second prize out of more than 200 performers at the Michael Jackson Challenge Contest in Tokyo with Kento Mori as a jury president. Also in 2013, he choreographed and danced for the full length of “Tableaux d’une exposition,” a clarinet quartet and for a 30 stage run with Ayako Fuji, a famous singer. Takeshi can now be seen on many stages in Japan, NYC, and around the world.
Honomi Kuwana
Honomi Kuwana began studying classical ballet with Kaori Ballet Studio at the age of 3 with her mentor Kaori Kawabata in Japan. At the age of 18, she moved to New York City to attend Joffrey Ballet School. Looking to diversify and learn new artful styles of dance Honomi began studying Capoeira, Jazz, Hustle, Contemporary, Improv, Hip-hop, underground dance such as (Waacking, Locking, Popping, House), and became certified to teach Gyrokinesis. Honomi is currently working with Vissi Dance Theater where she began in 2011. In 2012, Honomi also joined the Phyllis Rose Dance Company and became approved by the New York State Department of Education. She is also a member of the hip-hop, contemporary company Kinematik Dance Theater. One of Honomi’s greatest accomplishments was a successful audition to become a member of “Cirque du Soleil.” In 2014, Honomi wowed the audience at the Apollo Theater displaying her best for Jonzi D’s Freestyle Performance Bloc Party. She won the House Dance International 2014 House Group Battle 1st place and was also a finalist for the Experimental Battle in New York City. Today, Honomi lives in New York City and is always looking to share and live the art of Dance.
Ashley Carter
Ashley has worked alongside such artists as Ricky Martin, NeYo, Lady Sovereign, Nicki Minaj and Mila Kunis, for companies like Pilobolus, Derek Mitchell, Germaul Barnes/Viewsic Expressions, Momentum Dance Company, Variations Theatre Group, the Little Opera Theatre of NY, Moochaloo and Balasole, and for brands such as Nike, Nokia, Ursus Vodka, Microsoft, Heineken, Yahoo, Ameriprise, and Lush Cosmetics. She has been seen off-Broadway in shows like West Side Story and 3 to 1. In 2008 she was invited to Madrid to teach at the Association of Dance Professionals and choreograph for Spanish recording artist Nuria Elosegui. Ashley performed in Sia’s music video “Soon We Will Be Found”, in Central Park Summerstage, in a Boost Mobile commercial, danced in a feature film with Justin Timberlake, and is credited with choreographing independent feature film “The Ride of Tom and Valkyrie”. She has toured with the European show “Compradores de Sueños”, premiered the Legendary Dance Project at the Museo del Barrio and has completed her fourth season of New York City’s Summerstage as the director of DoubleTake Dance. DoubleTakeDanceCo.com
Both internationally as well as in the U.S., Ashley is passionate about her work as a dancer, teacher and choreographer. She has had the opportunity to perform and/or choreograph at venues such as Jacob’s Pillow, Teatro Madrid, The Gerald Lynch Theater, The Barrow Street Theater, SummerStage, The Highline Ballroom, Webster Hall and the Ailey Theatre. Ashley is also on faculty at Peridance in New York, various schools in Mexico and Spain; and has taught at Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, and Ballet Arts in New York City, Lines Dance Center in San Francisco, Tony Williams Dance Center in Boston and Round Rock Repertory in Texas.
Yuki Ishiguro
Yuki discovered breakdance while he was a student at university in Japan. Since then he has studied a wide variety of dance styles. Moving to New York in 2009 Yuki met many dancers with unique styles. By integrating these various influences, he began to create his own original movements and signature style that has been praised in various New York dance reviews. Yuki’s work with professional dance companies includes the Roxey Contemporary Ballet, Catapult Entertainment, Vertical aerial arts, and Emotions Physical Theatre. Yuki has been invited to collaborate with fusion flute musician Kenzie Slottow in Austin, Texas to make music videos and stage pieces. They currently perform their own evening length shows for Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in Boston, and in public schools in Texas. Yuki appeared in the martial arts film production ‘Kiai Kick’ and is in the fighting scene in martial arts film “Cornered”
Kate Dougherty
Kate is originally from Glenmoore, Pennsylvania. She recently graduated with a BA in Dance from Muhlenberg College. At Muhlenberg, she worked with choreographers such as; Charles O. Anderson, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, Dorrell Martin, and Sydney Skybetter. She also studied dance in Arezzo, Italy in 2013 with Rita Petrone and Giorgio Rossi and performed in venues in Arezzo. Kate has performed professionally with CoreDance Contemporary, Keith Thompson and in a work by David Parker and the Bang Group. She is very excited to perform her first season with Emotions Physical Theatre.
Luisa Martinez
Born to immigrant parents of Chile and Yugoslavia, Luisa began dancing at the age of 3 in Manhattan and continued her studies in Hanover, PA, and Baltimore, MD. Luisa traveled to Athens, OH where she received her B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography. During her education, her choreography was performed at Ohio University concerts and the American College Dance Festival. Since graduating, Luisa has found herself back in New York City where she continues to grow. In 2010, Luisa worked with Shannon Hummel and her teaching staff at Cora Dance School in Red Hook, Brooklyn. Feeling very inspired, she has continued to pursue a career in dance education by working with children at several schools and studios. Luisa is passionate about teaching children and hopes to engage their sense of awareness, agility and accomplishment. Since being in New York, Luisa has worked with Amalgamate Dance Company, Daniel Gwirtzman, Jessica Taylor of Damage Dance, and BARE Dance Company. From 2012-2013 Luisa was a member of INSPIRIT, a dance company formed by Christal Brown. She is now excited to embark on a new journey with Emotions Physical Theatre.
Majella Loughram
Majella Loughran started her training as a gymnast and circus performer in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She started breakdancing in the USA at age 11 and trained in hip hop, modern, jazz, ballet and musical theatre at Sleepy Hollow Performing Arts. As a teenager, she performed in Westchester county and toured to Italy. After receiving her BFA from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, Majella created Dark Matter Dance, a horror themed performance group and Pirate Dance Company working in the tri-state area. Majella has trained at Bates Dance Festival, CPYB, The Martha Graham School, Circus Wearhouse, The Muse Brooklyn, STREB and Diavolo. She loves teaching dance and choreographing. Her work has been shown at Gallery 151 in Brooklyn, Westchester Community College, Westchester Arts Exchange, the Katona Museum of Art, and the Purchase Dance Theatre Lab.
Currently Majella Performs with The Pin Up Girls Reform School in NYC and House of Mirth a NY based event and production company. Majella loves working with Shawn, Janette and all the dancers of Emotions Physical Theatre and is excited to be part of the company.
Angela Morgan
Angela was born in Ft. Monroe, Virginia. She danced recreationally as a child and began studying the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus when she was sixteen, under the tutelage of Carolyn Carattini. Angela passed both her Graded and Vocational RAD examinations. She trained with The Center Dance Company in Arlington, Virginia, where she received training in modern dance from Constance Walsh. Additionally, Angela has studied with Lauren Anderson, Stephen Wynne, and Caleb Mitchell. Since moving to New York, Angela has worked with Awakening Movement and ALMA NYC, performing for charity events and Couture New York Fashion Week. She is incredibly thankful for the opportunity to join Emotions Physical Theatre!
Shawn Rawls
Takeshi Ohashi
Honomi Kuwana
Yuki Ishiguro
Kate Dougherty
Majella Loughram
Angela Morgan
THE SERIES 2017 
You must be logged in to post a comment.